Cheng Pei-pei, a Chinese-born martial arts actress who starred in various films including “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and “Mulan,” was announced to have passed away on Wednesday.
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce that the rumors are true. Our mother, Cheng Pei Pei, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on July 17,” her family wrote on Facebook.
Her representatives at Echelon Talent Management confirmed of her death to PEOPLE and stated, “We are saddened by the loss of our client and dear friend Cheng Pei-Pei. She was not only the ‘Queen of Martial Arts’ and the first Asian action heroine, but she was also a true hero for what she did to help others till her very last days. She will be deeply missed by all those whose lives she touched.”
Cheng had been diagnosed with a rare degenerative brain disease similar to Parkinson’s disease back in 2019.
According to CNN, Cheng’s family explained in their statement that she had been living with a rare, progressive disease known as corticobasal degeneration, where brain cells die over time to worsen problems in movement, speech, memory and swallowing. No treatment has been able to stop the progression of this disease.
ABC News reports that Cheng began her acting career in Hong Kong in 1964 and became one of the stars of the wuxia genre of martial arts films. Her breakout role was in the Oscar-winning kung fu classic “Come Drink With Me.”
In 2000, she achieved international acclaim as villain Jade Fox in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” where she starred opposite actors Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang, Chow Yun-Fat and Chang Chen.
Her final role was in Disney’s live-action adaptation of “Mulan,” in which she starred as the Matchmaker.
She is survived by her three daughters and son.
“Our mom wanted to be remembered by how she was: the legendary Queen of Martial Arts … a versatile, award-winning actress whose film and television career spanned over six decades, not only in Asia but internationally as well,” they said.
Cheng’s last request was that donations be made to the Brain Support Network, where her brain was donated.
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